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Until a few decades ago this was an important mining area and in fact the entrances to the mines are still visible. 
Gavorrano rises on the slopes of Monte Calvo and owes its name to the ancient denomination of this site which was "Caput Boreanum".
In the 13th century the castle passed into the hands of the Counts of Pannocchieschi and in 1278 Count Paganello Inghiramo dei Pannocchieschi (nick-named "Nello") Lord of the "Castello di Pietra" (a few kms. from Gavorrano) was elected Podesta.
Nello was the second husband and perhaps the assassin of Pia de' Tolomei from Siena who was found dead in the Castello di Pietra.
Her death was remembered and mentioned by Dante in Canto V of his "Purgatory" (Siena mi fe', disfecemi Maremma").
The Castello di Pietra, site of the tragedy, stood on an impervious area: marshes and mediterranean "macchia" rendered this land 
hostile to human settlement: only the ruins now remain but one can see enormous square calcareous stones, a tower facing east and the perimetral walls to the west and south.The town was contended by Massa Marittima and Siena until the year 1335 when Massa Marittima fell to the Republic of Siena and Gavorrano followed suit. Today only the walls of the Castello di Gavorrano are recognisable, oval-shaped and with square towers at intervals. Inside the walls there are many important medieval buildings like those found along the Via Pannocchieschi which is flanked by constructions which conserve their original structure. The "new" parish church is also interesting, built at the end of the 18th century, in which there is a marble sculpture depicting the "Madonna col Bambino", work of Giovanni d'Agostino the last of the great Sienese sculptors of the 14th century and master builder of the Duomo of Siena and Arezzo. There is also an interesting small 18th century canvas (the Annunciation) and an 18th century painting (Baptism of Christ). Fonte: La Maremma Toscana |
